Ways of Investigating the Brain

Question 1

What does fMRI stand for?

Answer 1

functional magnetic resonance imaging

Question 2

what does fMRI’s measure?

Answer 2

changes in blood oxygenation that results from brain activity

Question 3

what sort of images does fMRI’s produce?

Answer 3

3D images

Question 4

how is fMRI’s useful?

Answer 4

helps identify localisation of function

Question 5

What does EEG stand for?

Answer 5

Electroencephalogram

Question 6

How does EEG’s work?

Answer 6

use electrodes attached to scalp to measure brain wave patterns

made by millions of neurones

Question 7

how is EEG useful?

Answer 7

gives overall account of brain activity

looks for abnormal patterns
e.g. epilepsy, tumour

Question 8

What does ERP stand for?

Answer 8

Event Related Potentials

Question 9

What does ERP’s measure?

Answer 9

activity of many neurones

Question 10

What are ERP’s?

Answer 10

brain waves triggered by a particular event/cognitive task

Question 11

What is post mortem examinations?

Answer 11

examining the body after death

Question 12

how is post mortem useful?

Answer 12

allows examination of brains after death